Upright burial casket, vault and carrier



M. J. MYERS Oct. 24, 1967 VAULT AND CARRIER UPRIGHT BURIAL GASKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 1, 1964 Morgan J Myers INVILN'IOR. 40%.

BY m,

Oct. 24, 1967 M. J. MYERS UPRIGHT BURIAL CASKET, VAULT AND CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 1, 1964 Fig. 4

1N VENTUR.

Annmqs United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A burial apparatus and procedure which enables orientation of the burial vault and casket and the contents thereof to be oriented in vertical position when interred. The apparatus includes a carrier to facilitate handling of the casket during normal funeral procedures. Orientation of the casket and vault in a vertical position enables the vault to be disposed with the upper end thereof flush with the ground surface and saves consideration ground area so that a larger number of burials may be accomplished in a given area. Orientation of the vault flush with the ground surface also enables preinstallation of the vault thereby eliminating the necessity of installing the vault when the grave is opened as in normal procedures. A pair of flexible cords attached to a hook enable two persons to attach the cords to a permanently affixed eyebolt located on the wall of the casket and thus permit the lowering or lifting of the casket in an upright position in relation to the vault.

The present invention generally relates to burial apparatuses and procedures including a new system of burial in which the vault and casket as well as the body in the casket is disposed vertically instead of in the normal horizontal orientation.

Burial procedures and apparatuses have generally followed conventional practice in which a trench-like hole is dug in the ground surface and a vault and casket therein lowered in a generally horizontal position after which the earth is replaced. In some instances, burial is carried out by placing the body in an above ground tomb or mausoleum. In urban areas, the land which is reserved for cemetery plots is quite valuable and the cost of a 'burial is quite high in view of the necessity of employing a relatively expensive vault and casket and also the relatively expensive procedure of opening a grave in the cemetery and consequently refilling the grave after the vault and casket have been placed therein.

It is the primary object of the present invention to pro vide a new system of burial in which the vault is substantially cylindrical and placed in the ground so that the top thereof is substantially at ground level prior to the time of burial with the casket being vertically orientated within the vault and also having a cylindrical configuration so that it can be lowered into the vault from ground level without opening a grave site as is usually necessary. This eliminates the costly procedure of opening a grave site and fur ther eliminates the necessity of covering the earth with a green covering material to simulate grass and eliminates the usual problems encountered when opening and closing a grave.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cylindrical vault having a diameter equal to a conventional post hole digging auger or well drilling auger for enabling the hole for receiving the vault to be readily formed at a minimum of cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a casket for use in an upright burial procedure together with a display roller or carrier to which the casket is detachably fastened to enable the casket to be easily rolled and the carrier is provided with handle structures for enabling the casket and carrier assembly to be conveyed to the site of the vault and subsequently disconnected from the carrier and the casket then lowered into the vault after which the vault is sealed at ground level and a suitable marker or the like attached to the lid of the vault. The vertical orientation of the vault enables at least double occupancy that is normally expected of a conventional size cemetery plot. Thus, in addition to decreasing the cost of the burial apparatus and procedure, the present invention also will reduce the cost for each cemetery plot, since a smaller area is necessary for receiving the vault.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an upright burial vault, casket and carrier in which the casket and vault may be constructed of plastic materials which are inert and which are long lasting, durable, lightweight and yet easily sealed and unafiected by any conditions that may be encountered underground.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the casket of the present invention with the carrier attached thereto illustrating the openable lid in inclined position for enabling observation of the body within the casket;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the structural details of the casket and the orientation of the components of the carrier in relation thereto;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed sectional view taken substan tially upon a plane passing along section line 33 of FIG URE 1 illustrating the manner in which the bolt is secured to the casket and carrier;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view of the vault with the casket illustrated in elevation except for the attaching means for an eye-bolt for use in lowering the casket illustrating the relationship of the casket to the vault;

FIGURE 5 is a plan sectional view taken substantially upon the plane passing along section line 55 of FIG- URE 4 illustrating the lowering ropes or lines in place;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the carrier illustrating the structural details thereof; and

FIGURE 7 is a detailed sectional view illustrating the manner in which the lowering hook is attached to the eye in the bottom portion of the casket.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the casket employed as a portion of the present invention while the numeral 12 generally designates the vault and the numeral 14 generally designates the carrier for the casket.

The casket 10 includes an elongated cylindrical shell or container 16 constructed of plastic material which may be molded or otherwise formed to provide a unitary plastic structure of suflicient length to receive the body 18 of the person to be buried. The ends of the casket 16 are semi-spherical as at 20 and a portion of the periphery of the wall of the casket is provided with a removable closure 22 secured in place by fasteners 24 and a suitable sealing material when it is permanently installed such as when the casket is closed prior to lowering into the vault 12. Suitable clips or props may be provided for proping the closure lid 22 in an upwardly inclined position to enable observation of the upper portion of the body 18 while lying in repose. The casket 10 includes embedded screw-threaded members or sockets 26 orientated at opposite ends and at selected locations peripherally thereof for for receiving fastening bolts or the like for supporting various decorative covering materials such as a depending skirt and other covering materials to render the assembly pleasing in appearance. Also, the plastic material may be of any suitable color. For example, it may be The carrier 14 includes a pair of elongated side rails 30 and 32 each of which has inturned ends 34 terminating in a ball 36. The side rails 30 and 32 are interconnected by a pair of arcuate saddles 38 having outwardly extending end portions 40 joined with the side rails 30 and 3-2. The saddles 38 conform with the arcuate curvature of the cylindrical wall 16 as illustrated in FIGURE 2 and one of the saddles 38 is provided with a threaded bolt 42 which extends upwardly through the bottom thereof and screwthreads into an inset screw-threaded socket 44 which is recessed inwardly in the periphery of the cylindrical wall 16.

Extending downwardly from the inner end of each extending portion 40 is a supporting leg 46 having a caster wheel 48 or any other suitable wheel on the lower end thereof for rollingly engaging the ground surface. The legs 46 are braced by inclined braces 50 which extend from the legs 46 upwardly and outwardly into engagement with the side rails 32 thus rigidifying the legs and side rails and forming a rigid unit. For locking the carrier in place, screw-threaded elements 52 are provided in a transverse lower member 54 extending between two of the legs 46 and anchor elements 56 are provided on the lower end of the threaded element 52 for braking engagement with a fioor surface to prevent rolling of the carrier when such movement is undesirable.

The carrier 14 receives slightly less than one-half of the periphery of the cylindrical wall 16 of the casket as illustrated in FIGURE 2 and is securely fastened thereto to prevent any possible relative movement of the casket in relation to the carrier. The side rails 30 and 32 serve as hand rails for the pall bearers with the inturned ends 34 enabling easy control of the carrier when it is being rolled to a desired destination.

The vault 12 includes a cylindrical plastic wall 60 having a circular bottom 62 with a projecting peripheral flange 64 preventing upward movement of the vault 12 in the event of excessive rain or the like. The vaults may be installed with the top edge thereof at ground level by using a conventional post hole anger or digger or any other suitable digger or auger for forming a cylindrical hole. After the vault has been lowered into the hole formed inthe ground, the earth is backfilled around the vault and, of course, the upper end of the vault is provided with a plastic closure lid 66 to retain the vault in closed condition until such time as it is ready for use. This enables a number of vaults to be installed during periods of good weather or at other times so that the soil need not be disturbed at all when the casket is to be lowered into the vault. When the vault is to be used, it is only necessary to remove the lid to a remote out-of-the-way position and the casket lowered into the vault after which the lid is replaced and secured in place by a plurality of screw-threaded fasteners 68. The lid 66 has a peripheral lip 70 which is sealed to the upper end of the cylindrical 'wall 60 thus forming a closure therefor in sealed relation. The marker plate 72 is placed over the lid 66 and has a depending screw-threaded stud 74 received in an embedded screw-threaded socket 76 which is normally provided with a handle attached thereto for ease of lifting and assembly of the lid and vault. After the vault has been installed, the handle is removed by unscrewing from the socket 76 and the marker plate which may be in the form of a bronze plate or the like attached thereto. The bronze plate is substantially flush with ground level thus enabling the grass in the cemetery to be easily mowed.

For lowering the casket 10 into the vault 12, an eyebolt 4 78 is threaded into the threaded socket 44 after the bolt 42 is removed and a rigid hook 80 is engaged therewith. The hook has a pair of ropes or nylon cords 82 and 84 connected thereto by virtue of having the ropes extend through the loop 86 on the hook 80 and be secured by a tie member 88. Thus, a pair of persons may lower the casket or lift the casket in relation to the vault with the ropes 82 and 84 being of sufliciently small diameter to fit within the space between the casket and the vault which is a very small space so that the normal air cushion formed under the casket will serve to cushion the downward movement thereof since the air in the vault displaced by the casket will have to pass between the vault and casket which is a restricted area and this compression of the air under the casket will retard the descent thereof.

For releasing the hook 80 from the eye-bolt 78 after the casket has been lowered into position, a wire or cord 90 extends alongside of one of the ropes and extends along the inner surface of the bight of the hook and is attached to the terminal end of the bight of the book as at 92. Thus, when the tension is released on the ropes 82 and 84, tension may be applied to the wire or cord 90 which will lower the hook in relation to the eye-bolt 78 and disengage the hook 80 from the eye-bolt 78 so that the hook, ropes 82 and 84 and the wire or cord 90 may be removed from the space between the vault and casket.

As will be apparent, the components of the present invention may be constructed of long lasting and durable material. For example, the carrier may be constructed of conventional tubular material welded or otherwise interconnected for forming a dependable and rigid carrier or display roller. The components of the vault may be constructed of plastic material and any suitable sealing material may be employed for sealing the casket and also for sealing the vault after the casket has been placed therein. The new system of burial possible with the present invention enables the cost of the vault and casket to be maintained at a minimum and also enables the cost of actually opening and closing a grave site to a minimum inasmuch as it is only necessary to remove the lid to install. the casket once the vault has been installed in place which will be done when the cemetery plot is laid out or may be done at any time but preferably prior to actual installation of a casket therein. Even if the vault is placed in the ground just prior to when the casket is placed therein, a conventional post hole digger will make a relatively neat cylindrical hole in the ground surface without disturbing the surrounding grass or area. This enables the acreaage in a cemetery to be more efiiciently used and also enables the over-all cost of maintenance to be reduced to a minimum and also enables the initial cost of fencing, landscaping and the like to be reduced to a minimum for a given number of cemetery plots.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A carrier for caskets comprising a pair of side rails, a pair of transversely extending arcuate saddles interconnecting the side rails, a plurality of depending legs rigidly attached to the saddles, wheels on the lower ends of the legs for enabling the carrier to rollingly engage a supporting surface, means on one of said saddles for locking engagement with a casket for securing the casket in place, said side rails having inturned end portions to form handles for controlling movement thereof when rollingly engaging a surface.

2. A. casket comprising a cylindrical container having rounded semi-spherical end portions, a closure lid in a portion of the cylindrical wall of said container, means removably securing the closure lid in place, means in the Wall of the casket opposite from the closure lid for receiving a securing bolt to anchor the casket to a carrier and an eye-bolt for enabling handling of the casket, and means in each end of the casket for supporting decorative materials.

3. An upright burial assembly comprising a vertically disposed vault including a substantially cylindrical member having a closed bottom Wall and a removable top wall, said closed bottom Wall including a peripheral edge projecting beyond the cylindrical member for anchoring the vault, a marker plate overlying the top wall and having substantially the same dimensions as the top wall, means releasably interconnecting the marker plate and top wall, means releasably securing the top wall to the cylindrical member, said flange on the bottom wall anchoring the vault in the ground surface with the top Wall and marker plate being substantially flush with the top of the ground surface, a casket received in the vault and including a cylindrical container having rounded semispherical end portions with the lower end portion of the casket resting directly on the inner surface of the bottom wall of the vault and the upper end portion of the casket being disposed slightly below the upper end of the vault, said container including a closure lid in a portion of the cylindrical wall thereof for providing access to the interior thereof, means removably securing the closure lid in place, means in the Wall of the casket opposite from the closure lid for receiving a securing bolt to anchor the casket to a carrier and an eyebolt for enabling handling of the casket, means in each end of the container at the apex of the rounded end portions thereof for supporting decorative materials.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 321,781 7/1885 Barrett 27-27 X 322,424 7/ 1885 Cregan 27-6 X 834,204 10/1906 Hodges 52-137 2,910,304 10/1959 Caylor 280-4717 X 3,133,334 5/1964 Johnsen 27-27 3,188,712 6/1965 Bauermeister 27-6 FOREIGN PATENTS 36,631 8/1886 Germany.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. W. E. KAMM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CARRIER FOR CASKETS COMPRISING A PAIR OF SIDE RAILS, A PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING ARCUATE SADDLES INTERCONNECTING THE SIDE RAILS, A PLURALITY OF DEPENDING LEGS RIGIDLY ATTACHED TO THE SADDLES, WHEELS ON THE LOWER ENDS OF THE LEGS FOR ENABLING THE CARRIER TO ROLLINGLY ENGAGE A SUPPORTING SURFACE, MEANS ON ONE OF SAID SADDLES FOR LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH A CASKET FOR SECURING THE CASKET IN PLACE, SAID SIDE RAILS HAVING INTURNED END PORTIONS TO FORM HANDLES FOR CONTROLLING MOVEMENT THEREOF WHEN ROLLINGLY ENGAGING A SURFACE. 